The 3rd generation Accord was released in Japan in 1985 and in Europe and North America in 1986. The third generation
Honda Accord had a very striking exterior design, bearing a resemblance to the second and
3rd generation Honda Prelude. One notable feature was the flip-up headlights, due to the new premium level
Honda Legend having a more conservative appearing fixed, aerodynamic flush halogen headlights. Sedan models sold on the European market featured fixed headlights and a different taillight cluster design.
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| Honda Accord 1987 |
The 3rd generation Accord became the first
Honda to employ double-wishbones at both the front and rear ends—a layout that spread to the Legend, Civic and Prelude in 1988 and the Integra in 1990. While more expensive than competitors' MacPherson strut systems, this setup provided better stability and sharper handling for the vehicle. All had front sway bars and upper models had rear sway bars as well. Brakes were either small 4-wheel discs with twin-piston calipers (only available on the JDM 2.0-Si model ), larger 4-wheel discs with single piston calipers, or a front disc/rear drum system. ABS was available as an option on the 4-wheel disc brake models, though not in North America. Base model Accords rode on 13-inch steel wheels with hubcaps with more expensive models having the option of 14-inch alloy wheels.
The 3rd generation Honda Accord's available engines varied depending on its market: Japan received the A18A, B18A, and B20A; Europe received the A16A1, A20A2, A20A4, B20A2 and B20A8, and North America received the A20A1 and A20A3.
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| Honda Accord 1988 |
The 3rd generation Honda Accord's trim levels ranged from spartan to luxurious. In the Japanese home market, the Accord was available with a full power package, heated mirrors (optional), a digital instrument cluster (optional), sun roof (optional), cruise control, and climate control (which was also optional). Some North European export models also had heated front seats and head light washers. North American and Australian Accords were not available with most of these options, presumably (and in the U.S. in particular) because
Honda was seen as a builder of economy cars, and not to cannibalize sales from the recently introduced Acura line.
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| Honda Accord Coupe LX 1989 |
The 3rd Generation Honda Accord was available in a range of different body styles, including a 4-door sedan, 4-door sedan with fixed head lights for the European market, a 3-door hatchback, and a 3-door "Aerodeck" which resembled the third generation Civic hatchback subcompact; but was not sold in U.S. or Canada. A 2-door coupe was added for the 1988 model year, built exclusively in
Honda's Marysville, Ohio factory. The
vehicles were exported back to Japanese market, where it was known as the
US-Coupe CA6.
